in the night | todomomo

chapter 3

The evening rise marked the start of the Ennichi festival. Bright lights, lively music, and rich smells of food filled the atmosphere of the cultural hub. Yaoyorozu had approached the entrance of the square, intimidated by the rushed and dazed aura of the festival. Fidgeting with the sleeves of her crimson yukata, she took a deep breath as she entered the festival grounds. Overwhelmed by all the bustling around her, she finds a bench near a tree and takes a seat.

Is it really okay for me to be here? I don't see Uraraka or Hagakure anywhere. There's so much happening, people everywhere. I should probably just go home.

Lost in thought, she becomes abruptly interrupted by a cold, monotone voice:

"Yaoyorozu."

"T-todoroki! What are you doing here?! I didn't plan on running into you here!"

Momo grows appalled at the sudden appearance of her seat partner. Blood rushes up to her face giving her a light blush. Obliviously, Todoroki interjects and says, "Why do people come here? I saw the flyer and thought I would give it a shot. I didn't plan on seeing anyone from UA here either. Let's just go look around." To her shock, Momo feels an odd warmth grow from the inside. No one had ever just spontaneously made plans with her like that, but she wasn't going to let the one night she could go out be uneventful. "If you wish please escort me Todoroki. I've never been here before anyway."

She's never been either? I guess we're more alike than I thought.

"Alright, but don't expect much from me, I haven't been here myself either."

Without any second thought, Shoto grabs Momo by the wrist and walks alongside her to the inner parts of the festival. Todoroki wasn't the smartest person when it came to shows of affection so to him grabbing Yaoyorozu's hand didn't seem like a big deal, or so he thought.

--

"Ochaco!! How good is this soba? Isn't it so yummy? I probably won't be able to walk for a while after this." Hagakure ordered more plates to devour alongside Ochaco.

"Yes! I haven't had this much good food all at once in such a long time. I'm so glad I saved up for this. We need to hit all the desert stalls after this," Uraraka said slurping up the soba noodles in front of her.

"What do you think about going to the candy apple-"

"Uraraka? Are you okay?"

"Is that Todoroki? Is he with a girl? WHO IS THAT?"

"You're lying, let me see!" Hagakure almost shoves Uraraka into the next barstool trying to get a view of the halved-boy. "Oh. My. Goodness." Hagakure stood there, invisible, but gasping for air as she saw the mysterious, modest lad make his way down the square with a girl of mysterious background.

"We are so going to tease him about this back at school," Ochaco said as both her and Tooru marched over to the dessert stalls.

Back at the square, Momo and Shoto began a sincere and earnest conversation. Momo's level of concern for Shoto ascended after the sudden movement from earlier.

"Todoroki. W-why did y-you do that earlier?"

"Do what? Also, it fits you well."

"What?"

"Your yukata, it looks good on you."

"Oh really? Thank you, Todoroki." Momo's hands began to have a slight tremor to them and a rosy glow bestowed upon her face. She was clearly flustered and perplexed by Shoto's sudden softness. He had never really been this forward or gentle with anyone his age, especially in such an intimate situation. His kind, easy-going mannerisms towards her only made it clear to her that she perhaps had a small crush.